REALL News - Vol 10 No 11 - 2002

Magazine Overview

This issue of The REALL News, Volume 10, Number 11, dated November 2002, is the official newsletter of the Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land (REALL). It features articles on skepticism in music, scientific discoveries, and personal experiences with unexplained phenomena, alongside organizational updates.

Skeptical Songs by David Bloomberg

David Bloomberg's lead article, "Skeptical Songs," explores the often-overlooked role of skepticism in music lyrics. He begins by quoting a line from the Smash Mouth song "Holiday in My Head" and discusses how music can be a medium for promoting critical thinking. Bloomberg analyzes the song "Sister Psychic" by Smash Mouth, noting how its lyrics initially seem ambiguous but ultimately adopt a sarcastic and skeptical tone towards psychic claims, highlighting the use of 'cold reading' and the commercial aspect of such services.

He then discusses other songs that carry skeptical messages. The Genesis song "Jesus He Knows Me" is presented as a parody of televangelists, critiquing their hypocrisy, fraud, and exploitation of followers through faith healing and creationism claims, particularly focusing on the financial aspect. Bloomberg also examines songs by Rush, specifically "Peaceable Kingdom," which, while primarily about terrorism, contains lines reflecting the challenges of sharing a rational viewpoint against prevailing narratives. He also references Rush's "Free Will," "Ghost of a Chance," "Roll the Bones," and "Presto," highlighting Neil Peart's skeptical lyrics that question destiny, fate, astrology, and mystical explanations, advocating for rational choice and empirical understanding.

Bloomberg concludes by noting that while these songs are not scholarly dialogues, their presence in mainstream music indicates that skeptical ideas have made some inroads. He encourages readers to share other examples of skeptical songs they know.

Wolfram Aims to Turn Science Upside-Down by Rob Hardy

Rob Hardy reviews Stephen Wolfram's book, "A New Kind of Science." The article introduces Wolfram's invention of a "cellular automaton" (CA), a simple program that can generate complex patterns and behaviors. Hardy explains that Wolfram believes this discovery could fundamentally change the direction of science, shifting the focus from complex equations to the inherent complexity arising from simple systems. Wolfram argues that if computers had been available centuries ago, science would have developed differently, emphasizing complexity over calculation.

Hardy notes Wolfram's audacious claim that his discovery requires a new look into scientific intuition across all fields. The review touches on Wolfram's background, including his early scientific achievements and his work developing Mathematica. The article highlights Wolfram's "Principle of Computational Equivalence," which posits that simple computations can be as powerful as complex ones, challenging the traditional view that complexity requires complex explanations. Examples are given of how CAs might explain phenomena ranging from planetary motion to the Second Law of Thermodynamics and even aspects of evolution and stock market fluctuations.

The review describes "A New Kind of Science" as a massive, personally driven work, accessible to a wide audience, and praises its design and presentation, suggesting Wolfram might be a significant figure in 21st-century science.

Finding the Story Behind the Missing Link by Rob Hardy

This article by Rob Hardy focuses on the life and work of Eugene Dubois, the discoverer of the "Missing Link" between humans and ape-like ancestors. Hardy discusses Pat Shipman's biography, "The Man Who Found the Missing Link: Eugene Dubois and His Lifelong Quest to Prove Darwin Right," which chronicles Dubois's journey.

Dubois, initially intended to be an apothecary, became fascinated with science after hearing a lecture on Darwin's theory of evolution. Inspired by Haeckel, he resolved to find a transitional fossil. His quest led him to the Dutch East Indies, where, working as a military doctor, he identified numerous fossils, including the Java Man (Pithecanthropus erectus) in 1891. The article details the challenges Dubois faced, including his father's pessimism, his own paranoia regarding scientific credit, and the difficulties of fieldwork. Shipman's biography also illuminates the personal struggles Dubois endured, including a strained relationship with his wife and a difficult return to Holland.

The article highlights the scientific and public backlash Dubois faced, leading him to lock away his specimens for decades. Hardy notes that Shipman had access to Dubois's personal archives, providing a comprehensive account of this extraordinary individual.

UFOs, Ghosts, and Misunderstood Perceptions by Bill Hahm

Bill Hahm shares two personal experiences and offers rational explanations. The first, "Event 1," describes witnessing a bright white object falling from the sky near Bloomington, which slowed, stopped, and then accelerated away. Hahm's best guess is that it was a sheet of ice from an airplane that melted and shrank, creating the illusion of receding.

"Event 2" recounts experiences of hearing his deceased dog, Ollie, in the house. Hahm theorizes this was a conditioned response, where his brain anticipated the dog's presence based on past routines, creating the perception of sound. He extends this idea to suggest that many perceived paranormal experiences, like seeing a ghost, might stem from such conditioned effects and misinterpretations of reality, questioning the percentage of our reality that might be imagined.

The article includes a chairman's note offering another possible explanation for a UFO sighting: a small object misinterpreted as large and distant due to atmospheric conditions and wind.

REALL Updates and Upcoming Events

The newsletter includes a section on "Purpose," outlining REALL's mission as a non-profit organization dedicated to rational thinking and scientific inquiry into paranormal claims. Membership rates and contact information are provided.

The "From the Chairman" section, written by David Bloomberg, announces the November meeting on "Evolution and Intelligent Design," featuring a video debate from the 4th World Skeptics Congress. It also briefly mentions the October meeting and a picnic.

A list of "Patrons" who financially support REALL is included, followed by a "REALL Contacts" section with hotline, chairman, editor, and website information.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the promotion of skepticism and rational inquiry across various domains, including music, science, and personal experiences. The editorial stance, as represented by REALL and its contributors, is clearly in favor of applying the scientific method and critical thinking to evaluate claims, particularly those related to the paranormal and fringe science. The newsletter actively encourages readers to engage with these ideas, share their own experiences and knowledge, and support the organization's mission. There is a consistent effort to provide evidence-based explanations for phenomena that might otherwise be attributed to supernatural causes.